Door positioner



July 11, 1967 w, GOBBLE I 3,329,991

DOOR POS IT IONER Filed May 5, 1965 INVENTOR. 1514 W oaam United States Patent Ofifice 3,329,991 Patented July 11, 1967 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spring device for returning a door to the just-ajar position whenever the door is not latched closed. A first spring mounted on one of the door hinges exerts a slight closing pressure agtinst the door, while a second spring interposed between the door and adjoining jamb exerts a slight opening pressure against the door when the latter is closed beyond said just-ajar position. The opposing pressures exerted by said springs are exactly balanced when the door is just-ajar.

The present invention relates to a device for automatically positioning a door so that it stands just ajar, and the invention is particularly intended for use with bathroom doors, which often face so that when the door is open, guests in the living-room or dining-room can look directly into the bathroom. It is desirable, of course, that the door be open to some extent when the bathroom is not in use, both for ventilation and to indicate that the bathroom is not being used.

Ideally, the bathroom door should be just ajar, with the free edge of the door open only three or four inches. When positioned thus, the nearly-closed door completely blocks the view into the bathroom, yet there is enough opening to allow for good ventilation, and it is quite obvious to all that the door is not closed, as it would be if the bathroom were in use.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device that functions automatically to return the door, each time that it is left open, to the just-ajar position.

Another object is to provide a device of the class described, which can be attached to one hinge of any door to make the same self-closing to the just-ajar position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a doorpositioner that can readily be installed by anyone, with no particular skill or previous experience necessary, and that can also be installed without tools other than a pair of pliers or the like, which may be needed to pull the pin out of the hinge.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a door having the present invention mounted on the top hinge thereof, and showing how the door is positioned so that it stands just ajar when open;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the invention, as it appears when mounted on a door hinge;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view, looking down on the invention when the door is just ajar, as seen at 33 in FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 3, but showing the door fully closed;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view, showing the door wide open;

FIGURE 6 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken at 66 in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is an exploded perspective view of the invention, showing the several parts thereof spaced apart from one another for clarity of illustration.

In FIGURE 1, the reference numeral 10 designates a door (such as a bathroom door) having the device of the invention mounted thereon, which maintains the door at the just-ajar position whenever the door is opened, substantially as shown in the drawing. The door 10 is swingably supported along one edge by hinges 12,

14 and 16, which are also attached to the jamb 17. The door 10 ha the usual latch 18 which cooperates with a latch plate (not shown) on the adjacent jamb, and knob 19 which releases the latch.

The door-positioning device of the present invention is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 20, and comprises a first spring member 22, which exerts a light spring pressure against the door whenever the door is opened wider than the predetermined, just-ajar position, thereby tending to urge the door in the closed direction; a second spring member 24, which exerts a light spring pressure against the door whenever the door is closed beyond the just-ajar position, thereby tending to urge the door in the opening direction; a rub-strip 26 of plastic, which is adhesively mounted on the door, and a pad 28, which is interposed between one part of the first spring member 22 and the jamb 17. These separate members are combined to form an integral unit which functions to position the door automatically, so that it stands just ajar whenever the door is opened.

The first spring member 22 is preferably formed of spring wire, and is bent intermediate its end to form a substantially circular loop 30, which surrounds the hinge pin 32 between the top end of the hinge barrels 34 and the head of the hinge pin. The hinge barrels 34 are connected to the jamb 17 and door 10 by the usual hinge plates 35, which are set into the Wood so that they are flush with their respective attachment surfaces.

From the loop 30, one end of spring member 22 extends in a straight portion 36 back over the jamb 17 at a slight outward angle with respect thereto when the spring is relaxed, as shown in FIG. 7, or when the door is closed, as in FIG. 4. The straight portion 36 then turns outwardly in the horizontal plane, away from the jamb 17, to define a substantially semi-circular, curved portion 38. The spring 22 then returns toward the door in a long, gently curved portion 40, which terminates in a reverse-curved foot 42, that slides within a lengthwiseextending channel 44in the rub strip 26.

The rub strip 26 has the dual function of protecting the surface of the door from abrasion by the spring foot 42, and providing a slight amount of frictional drag on the foot 42 which tends to check the movement of the door as the latter is closed by pressure of the spring foot. The rub strip is preferably molded or extruded of a plastic, such as nylon, having a relatively low coefiicient of friction, and is made in the form of an elongated, fiat strip, having two upstanding parallel ridges 46, which are spaced apart to define the channel 44 between them. The back side 48 of the strip is preferably coated with an adhesive which bonds to the door 10 when the strip is pressed into place.

The other end portion of the spring 22 extends from the loop 30 back over the jamb 17 in a straight portion 50, which terminates in a laterally elongated loop 52 that lies flat against the jamb. The loop 52 overlies the pad 28 and embraces two vertically spaced, circular bosses 54, which project from the top surface of the pad.

- side opposite the r from scratching or marring the surface of the jamb 17.

The second spring member 24 is also formed with .a circular loop 56, and from this loop extends in a straight portion 58 back into the nar'rowspace between the edge ofthe door and the adjoining jamb 17. This straight portion 58 terminates in a conical, volute spring 60, one

end of which engages the edge of the door adjacent the hinge, and the other end of which bears against the jamb. The function of the volute spring 60 is to exert a slight spring pressure against the door 10, tending to open the same to the just-ajar position whenever the door is closed beyond that position. When the door is fully closed, the volute spring 60 flattens out, and the coils of the spring compress to lie within the vertical plane, with the total thickness of the compressed spring being no more than the space between the edge of the door and the jamb.

To mount the device 20 on a door, all that is necessary is to extract the hinge pin 32 from the barrels 34 of the top hinge 12 (or either of the other two hinges 14, 16, if desired) and the hinge pin is then passed through the loops 30 and 56 of the spring members 22 and 24, respectively. The hinge pin 32 is then replaced in the hinge barrels 34, withthe second spring member 24 being inserted between the edge of the door and the jamb, as shown in the drawings. The pad 28 is then placed under the loop 52, and rub strip 26 is mounted on the door directly under the foot 42. The device is now ready for use.

'When the door is swung wide open, as in FIG. 5,, the first spring member 22 is stressed by the clockwise displacement of the outer end of the portion 40. This causes the straight portion 36 to bend back until'it bears against the loop 52, and beyond that point, the semi-circular ortion 38 of the spring is caused to open outwardly. When the door is thus opened, the pressure of the foot 42 against the rub strip 26 exerts a gentle closing action on the door, urging the same toward the closed position.

As the door approaches the just-ajar'position shown in FIG. 1, the volute spring 60 is compressed between the door and the jamb, until the spring pressure of the volute spring 60 is exactly equal to the opposing spring pressure of the spring member 22. This point of equilibrium is reached when the door is in the just-ajar position shown in FIG. 1. When the door is fully closed, the volute spring 60 is compressed between the door and the jamb, and flattens out to accommodate itself to the narrow space between them, as shown in FIG. 4. When the door latch is released, the pressure of the volute spring 60 opens the door to the just-ajar position.

While I have shown and described in considerable detail what I believe to be the preferred form of my invention, it will be understood 'by those skilled in the art'that various changes may be made in the shape and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims. For example, the two spring members 22 and 24 might be made in one piece; or they might be in the form of leaf springs instead of spring wire. It is also contemplated that the two spring members 22, 24, might be attached to a common bracket member, which could be secured to the hinge 12 by the hinge pin 32. These and other variations of the invention'are considered to be within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A door positioning device for automatically returning a door to the just-ajar position whenever said door is open, said door having hinges along one edge which are connected to the'adja'cent jamb, and each of said 4 hinges having a hinge pin removably inserted into asso: ciated hinge barrels, said device comprising:

a first spring means disposed adjacent one of said hinges and bearing at one end against said jamb and at the other end against said door, said first spring means exerting pressure against said door tending to close the same;

a second spring means associated with said first spring means and extending into the space between the edge of said door and the adjoining jamb, said second spring means including a spring wire portion bent into a conical volute spring, one end ofiwhich bears against the jamb and the other end of which bears against the edge ofsaid door at a point spaced horizontally from said one hinge, said conical volute spring exerting pressure against said door when the latter is closed beyond said just-ajar position, tend ing to open the door; the pressure exerted by said first spring means being exactly equal to the opposing pressure exerted by said second spring means when said door is standing at said just-ajar position; and means for mounting said first and second spring means on said one hinge. 2. A door positioning device for automatically returning a door to the just-ajar' position whenever said door is open, said door having hinges along one edge which are connected to the adjacent jamb, andeach of said hinges having a hinge pin removably inserted into associated hinge barrels, said device comprising:

a first spring member made of spring wire mediate its ends to form a circular .loop through which the hinge pin of one, of said hinges is passed to secure the member to said one hinge; said first spring member having one end portion that extends from said loop back over the adjacent jamb and terminates in a portion bearing against; the

jamb; e V the other end portion of said first spring member curving outwardly from said loop in the horizontal plane and terminating in a foot that overlies the face of said door at a point spaced horizontallyfrom said one hinge; a rub strip mounted on'said'door directly under said foot and slidably engaged thereby, said rub strip serving to protect the door against abrasion by said foot, and providing a slight frictional drag on said a foot tending to check the movement of the door as the latter is closed by the pressure of the foot; and a second spring member made of spring wire bent at one end into a circular loop through which said hinge pin of said one hinge is passed;

said second spring member having a straight portion ing a door to the just-ajar position whenever said door is open, said door having hinges along one edge which are connected to the adjacent jamb, and each of said hinges having a hinge pin removably inserted into associated hinge barrels, said device comprising:

first spring means disposed adjacent one of said hinges and exerting pressure against said door tending to close the same; and 7 second spring means associated with said first spring means and extending into the space between the edge of said door. and the adjoining jamb, said.

' second spring means including a spring wire portion bent inter 3,329,991 5 6 bent into a conical volute spring, one end of which References Cited bears against the jamb and the other end of which UNITED STATES PATENTS bears against the edge of said door at a point spaced horizontally from said one hinge, said conical volute 1,358,099 11/1920 Northcott 16 50 spring exerting pressure against said door when the 5 2660750 12/1953 Wauen 16 49 latter is closed beyond said just-ajar position, tend- 2,9 64'781 12/1960 Morm 16 191 X ing to open the door; FOREIGN PATENTS the pressure exerted by said first spring means being 5 7 5 /1949 Canada exactly equal to the opposing pressure exerted by 513 259 11/1930 Germany said second spring means when said door is standing 10 at said just-ajar position. BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DOOR POSITIONING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY RETURNING A DOOR TO THE JUST-AJAR POSITION WHENEVER SAID DOOR IS OPEN, SAID DOOR HAVING HINGES ALONG ONE EDGE WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE ADJACENT JAMB, AND EACH OF SAID HINGES HAVING A HINGE PIN REMOVABLY INSERTED INTO ASSOCIATED HINGE BARRELS, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING: A FIRST SPRING MEANS DISPOSED ADJACENT ONE OF SAID HINGES AND BEARING AT ONE END AGAINST SAID JAMB AND AT THE OTHER END AGAINST SAID DOOR, SAID FIRST SPRING MEANS EXERTING PRESSURE AGAINST SAID DOOR TENDING TO CLOSE THE SAME; A SECOND SPRING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST SPRING MEANS AND EXTENDING INTO THE SPACE BETWEEN THE EDGE OF SAID DOOR AND THE ADJOINING JAMB, SAID SECOND SPRING MEANS INCLUDING A SPRING WIRE PORTION BENT INTO A CONICAL VOLUTE SPRING, ONE END OF WHICH BEARS AGAINST THE JAMB AND THE OTHER END OF WHICH BEARS AGAINST THE EDGE OF SAID DOOR AT A POINT SPACED HORIZONTALLY FROM SAID ONE HINGE, SAID CONICAL VOLUTE SPRING EXERTING PRESSURE AGAINST SAID DOOR WHEN THE LATTER IS CLOSED BEYOND SAID JUST-AJAR POSITION, TENDING TO OPEN THE DOOR; THE PRESSURE EXERTED BY SAID FIRST SPRING MEANS BEING EXACTLY EQUAL TO THE OPPOSING PRESSURE EXERTED BY SAID SECOND SPRING MEANS WHEN SAID DOOR IS STANDING AT SAID JUST-AJAR POSITION; AND MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SPRING MEANS ON SAID ONE HINGE. 